China on Monday warned that further attacks in the Middle East risk creating an "uncontrollable situation" in the region, after US President Donald Trump threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants.

Trump gave Tehran a 48-hour deadline on Saturday to end its partial blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway into the Gulf through which about one-fifth of the world's oil flows, or risk an attack on its vital energy infrastructure.

In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the "use of force will only lead to a vicious cycle".

"If the war expands further and the situation deteriorates again, the entire region could be plunged into an uncontrollable situation," he said.

Trump, who was due to visit Beijing this month but delayed his trip to deal with the war, has called on China and other countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Beijing has yet to answer that call, but has sought to mediate in the Middle East, sending its special envoy Zhai Jun on a tour of the region to urge de-escalation.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said earlier that the war "should never have happened" and called for an end to fighting. (AFP)



Edited by Edmond Fong